Liverpool Pursues Complete Performance Against Fulham

Liverpool finally have a win on the board. What they still don’t have, in Andoni Iraola’s eyes, is a full, convincing 90 minutes.

Last weekend’s trip to newly promoted Ipswich Town looked like it might provide exactly that. Instead, Alexander Isak tore up the script, settled the contest early, and allowed Liverpool to ease through the rest.

Isak struck twice inside the opening 10 minutes, silencing Portman Road and breaking open a game that never really became a contest. Liverpool then coasted, managing the occasion rather than imposing themselves on the Tractor Boys from first whistle to last.

After back-to-back 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest to open the 2026-27 Premier League season, the travelling supporters didn’t mind. They had their centre-forward firing, the scoreboard in their favour, and three points at last. For a fanbase that had already ridden out two chaotic stalemates, seeing Isak “on the scoresheet early and often” was enough.

But Anfield tends to demand more than just efficiency. It demands control, authority, a team that grabs a game and refuses to let go. That is the standard Iraola is still chasing as Fulham arrive on Saturday.

Fulham dangerous despite slow start

On paper, this looks like a meeting between a side building momentum and one still stuck at the starting line. Fulham have yet to claim a single point this season. The story is not quite that simple.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s team have found the net freely, scoring multiple goals in two of their three league fixtures. They were well beaten by Chelsea and Sunderland in the opening two weeks, results that underlined defensive frailties and a lack of control in key moments.

Then came Crystal Palace. Fulham lost 3-2, but the scoreline did not tell the whole tale. They pushed, they created, and they could make a strong case for having been hard done by in defeat. The cutting edge is there; the structure and resilience are still catching up.

That blend makes them awkward visitors. Vulnerable, yes. But also capable of landing a punch if Liverpool drift into the kind of passive spells that marked parts of their performances against Newcastle, Forest and even Ipswich.

Team news: key absences on both sides

Iraola heads into the weekend with a significant absentee list.

• Hugo Ekitike remains out with an achilles problem
• Conor Bradley and Giovanni Lenoi are sidelined by torn ACLs
• Federico Chiesa is missing with a back issue
• Joe Gomez is also unavailable with an undisclosed problem

It is a substantial hit to Liverpool’s depth and flexibility, even if the core of the starting XI stays intact.

Fulham’s situation is less severe but still notable. Tom Cairney, a long-serving figure and technical reference point in midfield, misses the trip with a knee injury. Arbeloa will have to adjust his balance in the middle of the pitch, and Anfield is not a forgiving place to test new combinations.

How to watch

Kick-off at Anfield is set for 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, September 12. The match will be shown live on Peacock, with streaming also available on the same platform.

Prediction

Liverpool have the firepower and the home crowd. Fulham have goals, chaos, and nothing to lose.

If Iraola’s side finally stitch together the complete performance he wants, Anfield should see a second straight league win. If the lapses return and Fulham’s attack catches rhythm, this could turn into another wild, high-scoring chapter in a season that already feels restless.

Liverpool vs Fulham prediction: Liverpool to edge it, with both teams on the scoresheet.